How many schools have you taught at, and what grade levels were they? Two high schools (Private Boarding High school grades 8-12, and Council Rock South).
Why did you become a teacher? Why did you pick the grade level and subject you teach?
I thought I was going to be a doctor. So much so that I have a pre-med minor and could take the MCAT and go to Med school if I wanted to. I took a step back and realized that the reasons why I wanted to become a doctor are very similar to the reasons on why I became a teacher. I have a mathematics major in my undergraduate studies and I knew I liked teaching the “higher level” math courses (AP Calc, AP Stat, Computer Programming, Accelerated Algebra 2).
In which ways do you think your school creates a community?
Our school creates community by celebrating students and faculty successes in any and all ways possible. We want to acknowledge when students do things that are positively received by the outside community as well as the staff and faculty.
When teaching do you explain to your students how this information can be used outside of the classroom?
I try to explain real life situations that the math we learn is applicable. It is almost always in response to the “When are we ever going to use this?” question. And sometimes, I can’t explain it, but I’m honest and I feel comfortable saying that they probably won’t use the material we learn.
What do you think it means to be educated?
To be educated? That’s a loaded question. I used to think an “educated” person was someone who had an undergraduate or a graduate degree, but I’ve met a bunch of people who are have those degrees and are not as “educated” as I feel they should be. I think that students with a Liberal Arts education (usually smaller colleges) have a better chance of being “educated” because they tend to have more opportunities to interact with people of different backgrounds as well as engage in different life experiences. Ultimately, that’s what being educated is to me. If you can hold a conversation with someone/anyone/a stranger for an extended period of time, shows me that you are educated. Someone who is able to talk about their life experiences and has been given the tools to adapt and adjust to any circumstance is someone who is truly educated.
Interview #2
1. How many schools have you taught at, and what grade levels were they?
I have taught at 3 schools. Council Rock North (grades 9-12), Council Rock South (grades 9-12) and Holland Middle School (grades 7-8)
2.Why did you become a teacher? Why did you pick the grade level and subject you teach?
I became a teacher because I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and making a difference in someone’s life. I had a Business teacher in high school whom I admired greatly. I wanted to be just like her so I went to school to specifically become a secondary Business teacher.
3.In which ways do you think your school creates a community?
I believe that school creates a community because teachers, students and parents are all working together to shape the future of the community. By educating young students, you are making a positive difference in a community.
4.When teaching do you explain to your students how this information can be used outside of the classroom? I absolutely explain how what I am teaching can be used outside of the classroom. The nature of what I teach (Business) is so centered around what is going on in the outside world, that it is impossible for me not to explain how you would use what I am teaching in the outside world. I think that it is very important for students to see that outside connection to make the learning to them more valuable.
5.What do you think it means to be educated? To me, being educated means to be empowered and to have choices. There are many more open doors and windows available to you when you are educated. Once you are educated, you have the power and choice to do whatever you want with that knowledge.
Interview #3
1. How many schools have you taught at, and what grade levels were they? Three schools…Upper Darby High School for three years, Richboro Middle School for six years, and CRHS for six years (this is my seventh). 2. Why did you become a teacher? Why did you pick the grade level and subject you teach? I wanted to do something where I felt like I was helping people and making a difference in the world. I didn’t want to complain about the problems that I saw in the world like a lot of people do…I wanted to contribute to change and improvement. I like the energy level of a high school because kids are really starting to get a feel for who they are. They’re starting to explore, become curious about things, and transition from being a kid to being an adult. There is never a dull moment in a high school. I like watching kids grow and change and being there to help if they need anything. I also find biology fascinating…trying to understand life and how it works. 3. In which ways do you think your school creates a community? A common sense of purpose…something to take pride in…forms social bonds. 4. When teaching do you explain to your students how this information can be used outside of the classroom? I think I do. I have it easy because biology is everything around you. Behavioral science is everything you do, all of your social interactions, etc. I try to point out and explain how the info is relevant, but like I said…because of my content, I think that job is already done for me. 5. What do you think is means to be educated? To be a curious person always interested in learning new things, no matter what the topic. People that I find interesting and that I consider educated, look up things they don’t know. They get opposing viewpoints on topics instead of talking to people who support what they already think. They do a lot of listening and they ask a lot of questions. I think educated people have a broad range of interests…they’re not just one certain type of person. They can mix and mingle anywhere and still be comfortable.
Findings:
I found that in all of these interviews of teachers they really care about their students. In everything they teach they explain a way that it is used in the real world, and if there is not they say that there isn't. Both of these teachers said that their school creates communities in many different ways. I think that is extremely important today, because with all of the technology and other resources it is sometimes hard for everyone to be a community. I added in the question what it means to be educated to get more opinions since I have never really thought about it before.
Interview #1
I thought I was going to be a doctor. So much so that I have a pre-med minor and could take the MCAT and go to Med school if I wanted to. I took a step back and realized that the reasons why I wanted to become a doctor are very similar to the reasons on why I became a teacher. I have a mathematics major in my undergraduate studies and I knew I liked teaching the “higher level” math courses (AP Calc, AP Stat, Computer Programming, Accelerated Algebra 2).
Our school creates community by celebrating students and faculty successes in any and all ways possible. We want to acknowledge when students do things that are positively received by the outside community as well as the staff and faculty.
I try to explain real life situations that the math we learn is applicable. It is almost always in response to the “When are we ever going to use this?” question. And sometimes, I can’t explain it, but I’m honest and I feel comfortable saying that they probably won’t use the material we learn.
To be educated? That’s a loaded question. I used to think an “educated” person was someone who had an undergraduate or a graduate degree, but I’ve met a bunch of people who are have those degrees and are not as “educated” as I feel they should be. I think that students with a Liberal Arts education (usually smaller colleges) have a better chance of being “educated” because they tend to have more opportunities to interact with people of different backgrounds as well as engage in different life experiences. Ultimately, that’s what being educated is to me. If you can hold a conversation with someone/anyone/a stranger for an extended period of time, shows me that you are educated. Someone who is able to talk about their life experiences and has been given the tools to adapt and adjust to any circumstance is someone who is truly educated.
Interview #2
1. How many schools have you taught at, and what grade levels were they?
I have taught at 3 schools. Council Rock North (grades 9-12), Council Rock South (grades 9-12) and Holland Middle School (grades 7-8)
2.Why did you become a teacher? Why did you pick the grade level and subject you teach?
I became a teacher because I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and making a difference in someone’s life. I had a Business teacher in high school whom I admired greatly. I wanted to be just like her so I went to school to specifically become a secondary Business teacher.
3.In which ways do you think your school creates a community?
I believe that school creates a community because teachers, students and parents are all working together to shape the future of the community. By educating young students, you are making a positive difference in a community.
4.When teaching do you explain to your students how this information can be used outside of the classroom?
I absolutely explain how what I am teaching can be used outside of the classroom. The nature of what I teach (Business) is so centered around what is going on in the outside world, that it is impossible for me not to explain how you would use what I am teaching in the outside world. I think that it is very important for students to see that outside connection to make the learning to them more valuable.
5.What do you think it means to be educated?
To me, being educated means to be empowered and to have choices. There are many more open doors and windows available to you when you are educated. Once you are educated, you have the power and choice to do whatever you want with that knowledge.
Interview #3
1. How many schools have you taught at, and what grade levels were they?
Three schools…Upper Darby High School for three years, Richboro Middle School for six years, and CRHS for six years (this is my seventh).
2. Why did you become a teacher? Why did you pick the grade level and subject you teach?
I wanted to do something where I felt like I was helping people and making a difference in the world. I didn’t want to complain about the problems that I saw in the world like a lot of people do…I wanted to contribute to change and improvement. I like the energy level of a high school because kids are really starting to get a feel for who they are. They’re starting to explore, become curious about things, and transition from being a kid to being an adult. There is never a dull moment in a high school. I like watching kids grow and change and being there to help if they need anything. I also find biology fascinating…trying to understand life and how it works.
3. In which ways do you think your school creates a community?
A common sense of purpose…something to take pride in…forms social bonds.
4. When teaching do you explain to your students how this information can be used outside of the classroom?
I think I do. I have it easy because biology is everything around you. Behavioral science is everything you do, all of your social interactions, etc. I try to point out and explain how the info is relevant, but like I said…because of my content, I think that job is already done for me.
5. What do you think is means to be educated?
To be a curious person always interested in learning new things, no matter what the topic. People that I find interesting and that I consider educated, look up things they don’t know. They get opposing viewpoints on topics instead of talking to people who support what they already think. They do a lot of listening and they ask a lot of questions. I think educated people have a broad range of interests…they’re not just one certain type of person. They can mix and mingle anywhere and still be comfortable.
Findings:
I found that in all of these interviews of teachers they really care about their students. In everything they teach they explain a way that it is used in the real world, and if there is not they say that there isn't. Both of these teachers said that their school creates communities in many different ways. I think that is extremely important today, because with all of the technology and other resources it is sometimes hard for everyone to be a community. I added in the question what it means to be educated to get more opinions since I have never really thought about it before.